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Beltane cake

Beltane cake on a wooden background. Branches of hawthorn.

Cakes made with honey go back to the Celts who would have made a honey flavoured bread which they would probably have griddled. Honey cakes were also popular in Ancient Rome. As honey was the only means of sweetening before the introduction of sugar in the Middle Ages most desserts and cakes were made with it. Such cakes were often eaten during Beltane festivals. The cake would either have been unleavened or made with a sourdough yeast. This recipe is an updated recipe using self-raising flour.

Equipment

  • 20cm springform cake tin
  • Baking paper
  • Weighing scales
  • Saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric hand whisk
  • Cooling rack

Preparation method

  • Preheat the oven to 160C/300F/gas 2.
  • Grease and line the cake tin with baking paper.
  • Cut the butter into chunks and place in the saucepan with the honey and sugar.
  • Melt the mixture over a medium heat and once melted, increase the heat and boil for one minute.
  • Pour the mixture into the mixing bowl and leave for 10-15 minutes to prevent the eggs cooking when they’re added.
  • Once cool whisk in the eggs, one at a time, with the electric hand whisk.
  • Sift the flour into the mixture and fold in with a spoon, then whisk to a smooth batter.
  • Pour the batter into the cake tin, place in the oven and bake for 50 minutes.
  • Check the cake after 30 minutes to make sure the surface isn't burning. If it, is place a piece of kitchen foil over the top.
  • The cake is done when it is firm when pressed and a skewer pushed into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
  • Leave to cool in the tin for 20 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
  • When the cake is completely cool brush one side of your sun template with honey and stick onto the centre of the cake.
  • Dust around the sun template with icing sugar and then very carefully peel off the template ensuring that no icing sugar slips onto the sun design.

Note: I tend to prefer to use a hand-held electric whisk so the recipes refer to this, but you may prefer to use a stand mixer. Just use the beater for mixing cake batters and the whisk for egg whites and cream.
For tips on and advice see my guide on making cakes.

Iron age

Serves:
8
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 250 g clear honey
  • 225 g unsalted butter
  • 100 g light muscovado sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 300 g self-raising flour

To decorate

  • Sun template made of paper – your choice of design
  • Icing sugar

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Beltane cake
Serving Size
 
130 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
516
Percent of Daily Value*
Fat
 
25
g
38
%
Saturated Fat
 
15
g
94
%
Cholesterol
 
133
mg
44
%
Sodium
 
35
mg
2
%
Potassium
 
117
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
69
g
23
%
Fiber
 
0.1
g
0
%
Sugar
 
40
g
44
%
Protein
 
6.8
g
14
%
Calcium
 
37
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2.7
mg
15
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Keywords

Honey

May Day